🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Jun9.164135.26596@clipper.ingr.com>, fenwick@clipper.ingr.com (Stephen Fenwick) writes:
|> In article <1992Jun9.002842.29188@leland.Stanford.EDU>, gooch@leland.Stanford.EDU (Carl Gooch) writes:
|> > You seem to be neglecting either the time you would ordinarily spend 
|> > exercising (if you do) with accompanying shower & change time; or the 
|> > health benefits that you got while riding to work regularly which you
|> > no longer enjoy.  Add in reduced health insurance to go with your 
|> > improved fitness, reduced car insurance and upkeep costs due to lower
|> > mileage, and that 185 hours/year might not sound like such a bad 
|> > investment, even ignoring the environmental damage you wouldn't be
|> > causing.
|> 
|> Hmm. My company pays for my health insurance (I do, indirectly);
|> I expect that the current system will be replaced by a national
|> health care system by the turn of the century. I don't smoke or drink,
|> which eliminates two of the biggest controllable risks. I don't
|> exercise as uch as I'd like, but if I were to start, I'd use
|> a rowing machine (which gives a more complete workout) and watch
|> MacNeil-Lehrer at the same time.
|> 
|> Car insurance doesn't go down for less use; I've tried to convince
|> our insurer (State Farm) that we'd like to use public transit,
|> but they still assume we'll use our one-and-only car for commuting.

Your insurance points are well-taken.

|> Using a car once a week (or less) will increase you repair
|> costs, as the cylinders begin to corrode shortly after stopping.
|> Most IC engines will be kept in best condition if they are run
|> at least once a day, long enough to thoroughly heat them.

Repair costs per _mile_ might very well go up with less driving,
but repair costs per _year_ I'd really expect to go down.  Subtract
an oil change or two each year, get 6-8 years from a set of 40,000 mile
tires instead of 4 years, etc.  Adds up pretty fast compared to the
major overhaul work you imply when speaking of corroding cylinders.

|> BTW, what's the problem with a renewable-fuel vehicle? Mercedes is
|> showing off a methanol-powered car; electric cars have been around
|> for a long time (at least as long as IC engined cars). How about hybrids?

Nothing at all, except that they aren't currently available in quantity.
That appears to be about to change, thanks in part to the Clean Air Act.

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Carl Gooch                       |        Why am I inside at a keyboard when 
gooch@leland.stanford.edu        |        I could be outside riding bike?
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